Oakland Raiders Kwame Harris (77) (center) rests on the bench during the second half of the Oakland Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints game at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in New Orleans, La. Final Score: Oakland Raiders: 3 - New Orleans Saints: 34 less

Oakland Raiders Kwame Harris (77) (center) rests on the bench during the second half of the Oakland Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints game at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in New Orleans, ... more

Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle

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Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable watches the game from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the Oakland Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints game at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in New Orleans, La. Final Score: Oakland Raiders: 3 - New Orleans Saints: 34 less

Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable watches the game from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the Oakland Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints game at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in ... more

Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle

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JaMarcus Russell scrambles away from New Orleans Saints Charles Grant (94) during the first half of the Raiders-Saints game at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in New Orleans, La.

JaMarcus Russell scrambles away from New Orleans Saints Charles Grant (94) during the first half of the Raiders-Saints game at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle

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Oakland Raiders Johnnie Lee Higgins (15) runs down the field during the second half of the Oakland Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints game at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in New Orleans, La. Final Score: Oakland Raiders: 3 - New Orleans Saints: 34 less

Oakland Raiders Johnnie Lee Higgins (15) runs down the field during the second half of the Oakland Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints game at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday, October 12, 2008 in New Orleans, ... more

Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle

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Cable starts making changes to lineup

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The Raiders registered quite the temblor when they released cornerback DeAngelo Hall on Wednesday, an 8.0 in terms of millions paid for eight games of service.

Thursday brought the aftershocks - minor in comparison, but with just enough oomph to create some locker-room jitters.

Interim coach Tom Cable announced more lineup changes, with the most striking being that second-year player Mario Henderson will share playing time with left tackle Kwame Harris against the visiting Panthers on Sunday.

He also said little-used safety Rashad Baker will get a chance to play in nickel packages ahead of former No. 7 overall draft pick Michael Huff, who was demoted from starter last month.

"You definitely see the shakeup," said Baker, who has been inactive in six of eight games. "You see the changes. Hopefully, that'll be the thing that we need around here."

This isn't about getting better talent on the field. Cable sees a 2-6 season sinking fast. He wants to send a message that apathy will not do. If a two-time Pro Bowler like Hall isn't safe, no one is.

The fact Raiders owner Al Davis is letting Cable make these moves - and some suggest Davis is dictating them - shows that Davis is just as fed up with the status quo after five 2-6 starts in six years.

"You want to get guys that are just giving you 100 percent effort all the time and really pulling for the football team," Cable said. "That's really what it is. Getting that attention is good.

"At the same time, make them compete, make them earn it every day is the next step as we do this."

In other words, keep a lineup card handy for the second half of the season because Cable said they're not done yet.

Cable didn't sound worried if players don't like it - and right now, the only ones who seem to like it are the ones getting their first promotion.

As for players like Asomugha, who spoke against the recent shakeup Wednesday, Cable said that reaction is normal.

"Because it hasn't happened before," Cable said. "Everybody is afraid of something new or shocked, like, 'Oh, it did happen.' Well, OK, now it happened.

"The line is drawn in the sand. Now let's move forward as a football team."

Getting all the players to move forward with Cable will be the challenge, the veterans in particular.

They've seen four coaches come and go in six seasons. If they don't like Cable's approach, they could try to wait him out in expectation of yet another coaching change after the season.

As for the new players, this is their chance to do something with their previously unoffered chance.

"I'm going to go out and give it all, whether good or bad," Henderson said. "The fact that they depend on me is a good feeling. I'm just trying to get that trust up."

Russell sore: Quarterback JaMarcus Russell did not finish practice because of tendinitis in his right knee, Cable said.

Cable called the move precautionary and expects Russell to start Sunday. Russell was not available for interviews Thursday.

No TV: Sunday's game did not sell out, which means it will be blacked out on local television.

That ends an eight-game sellout streak for the Raiders - the final four games of last season and the first four this season.

Briefly: Huff missed practice Thursday after bruising his hip one day earlier. ... Outside linebacker Ricky Brown (groin) remains out, increasing the likelihood of Sam Williams starting for the first time since last year. ... Tight end Tony Stewart did not finish practice with knee tendinitis. ... Backup quarterback Andrew Walter remains limited with a strained calf but was able to take the last eight snaps for Russell.